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Part 4: A Modern Nativity

The next few days were very busy. Fielding phone calls, making arrangements. There was still joy at the new birth but sadness at the loss of their father. The funeral went smoothly with all the right things being said by so many friends. Life was now supposed to get back to normal. But normal wasn't how the family felt. The highs and lows of this Christmas would be felt for a long time.

It was late in the afternoon a week after the funeral when there was a ring at the door. It was a stranger asking for Mary. When she came she could not believe her eyes. There was the team who had helped her through all the procedures, doctors and nurses. Mary had rung the hospital and explained that her father's funeral would delay their return and that the baby had already been born. Having heard the story the team said they had to come and see. “We had quite some difficulty finding the farm,” laughed one of the nurses. Mary brought them in and all gathered around the cot to see the sleeping baby. As they examined mother and baby Joe thought of all they had been through. The red tape of the fertility programme made it seem they would never have a baby of their own. But now Simon was with them. What turns would their lives take? What would the future hold? But first he had to make plans to return home.

When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, "Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."    Matthew 2:1-2

Wise Ones

The Bible is unclear on who these Wise Ones were. All it says is that they came from the east. Many have thought they were from Iran. Magi were astronomers and astrologers who may have seen a star that signified a King's birth. Another tradition has them come from the corners of the world - a Chinese, an African, and a Caucasian. They were even given names Bathazar, Caspar, and Melchior. In the midst of what we don't know we can say that they are the opposite of the shepherds. These are the respected of society who have access to the King.
 Matthew 2:1-15
What do you think the Wise Ones' reaction to the humble home would have been?
What would have the family's reaction have been to the visitors with their gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold?
Our society has made different judgements on who is wise and who holds our respect. In my story the specialist team arrive. To get a doctor to make a home visit is a major achievement so imagine the family's surprise at the journey they have made.
Where are the wise of our society today?
Would the reaction to the visit be the same?
What gifts would they bring?

King Herod

Here is the only villain of the story. Herod the Great was in some ways a good ruler. It was he who built the Temple of Jesus' day. However, he was seen as a puppet of powerful Rome. He was also quite paranoid and murdered many of his own family who he saw as a threat. In this way news of the birth of a new king aroused his wrath and an order is made to kill all boys under two in Bethlehem.
 Matthew 2:16-18
What is your reaction to such a brutal response?
In the story I could not see our Prime Minister ordering a massacre. So I used the term “red tape” to cover a multitude of sins.
Where would such massacres be real today?
What is there in our society that kills the spirit if not the body?